1Greek Mythology 2The sources for ancient Greek myth are myriad. References to myth range from those written by contemporary Greek historians and authors to poems composed in honor of the gods and goddesses to plays (comedies, tragedies, even films and videos). 3These are meant to dramatize man's relationships with the divine and sometimes man's aspirations to be divine. 4Truly, to compile a complete list of ancient sources is far beyond the resources of most individuals. 5Yet, a description of the major characters of Greek myth has the distinction of being accessible. 6There are four major categories of characters we will look at 7Gods Goddesses featuring the Greek pantheon (from Aphrodite to Zeus), the Titans, and other free spirits (the Muses, for example) 8 2)Heroes HeroinesGreek mortals of myth and legend, such as Odysseus, Theseus, and Ariadne, are featured in this section 9 3)Lovers Legends myths and stories about Greek mythological characters - for example the legend of Echo and Narcissus, and the story of Eros and Psyche 10 4)Creatures Chimerae the monsters of Greek mythology - the Sphinx, Medusa, and of course the Chimera - are categorized 11Within the category Gods and Goddesses we have four more categories Olympians Chthonians Titans Free Spirits 12ChthoniansThese are the Greek gods and goddesses of Earth and the Underworld - examples are Hades and Persephone 13TitansWere beings who ruled before the coming of the Olympians - Gaia and Hyperion are two examples of Titans 14Free Spirits There is a list of important Greek gods and goddesses who do not fit into a specific category - includes the Muses, Nike, nymphs, etc. 15The Chthonians deities inhabited the opposite realm from the Olympians - the Earth or the Underworld (chthon means earth in Greek). 16These immortals therefore acquired a slightly more dark and shadowy aspect than their bright Olympian counterparts. 17Nevertheless, the following gods had their place in the Greek pantheon, for they fulfilled certain fundamental needs, including providing an explanation for what happens to mortals after death. 18Erinyes (Furiae) also known as Furies, these were female spirits who exacted vengeance against those who committed specific crimes 19Keres Keres were female spirits of death and destruction in ancient Greece 20Hades (Pluto) Was the god of the Underworld and ruler of the dead husband of Persephone 21Hekate (Trivia) A goddess of magic an alternate spelling of her name is Hecate 22Persephone (Proserpina) A goddess of the Underworld and wife of Hades also known as Kore (the maiden) 23Thanatos God of death 24The Titans The Titans were a race of gods who were the parents and precursors of the Olympians. 25The Titans were defeated by this younger generation of deities, who were led by Zeus. 26The ancient Greek poet Hesiod, in his Theogony, claims that the goddess Gaia first gave birth to Ouranos, then mated with him to produce these offspring. 27Later, Ouranos was to name his children Titans, which translates into overreachers. 28Atlas Atlas led the struggle between the Titans and Olympians, and for this he was punished... 29Atlas is a legendary Titan in Greek mythology. 30Indeed, this mythological character appears in many compelling stories, from the tale of the exploits of the hero Herakles (Hercules), to the myth that claims he supported the sky on his shoulders. 31Epimetheus This Titan was the brother of Prometheus the name Epimetheus means "afterthought" 32Epimetheus is often mentioned in conjunction with his famous brother Prometheus. 33Indeed, the names Epimetheus and Prometheus together represent two different but related aspects of thought - Epimetheus means "afterthought", while Prometheus symbolizes "forethought". 34The personification of afterthought, the Titan Epimetheus is often contrasted with his more sensible brother (Prometheus) in myth. 35Prometheus was a not a fool, but why else would he rebel against Zeus? 36He tried to trick Zeus (who knows all and sees all) with a false sacrifice. How foolish can you get? 37Prometheus also stole fire from Zeus and gave it to the primitive mortals on the earth. 38Zeus did not punish Prometheus alone, he punished the entire world for the effrontery of this rebel god. 39Prometheus was a god long before Zeus took the Throne of Eternity. 40He fought for Zeus against the devising Kronos (Cronos), but Prometheus never had true respect for Zeus. 41Prometheus feared that the new Olympians had no compassion for each other or the mortals on the earth below. 42To show his disdain, Prometheus prepared two sacrifices and, in an attempt to belittle father Zeus, he made one sacrifice of fat and bones and the other of the finest meat. 43The trick was, Prometheus had wrapped the fat in such a way that it looked to be the most sincere tribute of the two. 44Zeus saw through the trick and magnanimously controlled his anger. He warned Prometheus but did not punish him. 45Zeus had many plans for the reshaping of creation. 46After the fall of Kronos and his confinement in Tartaros, Zeus took no interest in the mortal race of men on the bountiful earth, he intended for them to live as primitives until they died off. 47Zeus said that knowledge and divine gifts would only bring misery to the mortals and he insisted that Prometheus not interfere with his plans. 48Dispite Zeus warning, Prometheus took pity on the primitive mortals and again, he deceived Zeus. 49Prometheus gave the mortals all sorts of gifts brickwork, woodworking, telling the seasons by the stars, numbers, the alphabet (for remembering things), yoked oxen. 50He also provided them with carriages, saddles, ships and sails. He also gave other gifts healing drugs, seercraft, signs in the sky, the mining of precious metals, animal sacrifice and all art. 51To compound his crime, Prometheus had stolen fire from Zeus and given it to the mortals in their dark caves. 52The gift of divine fire unleashed a flood of inventiveness, productivity and, most of all, respect for the immortal gods in the rapidly developing mortals. 53Within no time (by Immortal standards), culture, art, and literacy permeated the land around Mount Olympos (Olympus). 54When Zeus realized the deception that Prometheus had fostered, he was furious. 55He had Hephaistos (Hephaestus) shackle Prometheus to the side of a crag, high in the Caucasus mountains. 56There Prometheus would hang until the fury of Zeus subsided. 57Each day, Prometheus would be tormented by Zeus eagle as it tore at his immortal flesh and tried to devour his liver. 58Each night, as the frost bit its way into his sleep, the torn flesh would mend so the eagle could begin anew at the first touch of Eos (the Dawn). 59Zeus anger did not stop there. He intended to give the mortals one more gift and undo all the good Prometheus had done. 60Zeus fashioned a hateful thing in the shape of a young girl and called her Pandora. 61Pandoras name means, giver of all or all endowed. Her body was made by Hephaistos, he gave her form and voice. 62Goddess Athene (Athena) gave her dexterity and inventiveness. 63Aphrodite (goddess of Love) put a spell of enchantment around her head and Hermes put pettiness in her tiny brain. She was ready for the world. 64Zeus gave Pandora to Ephemetheus (brother of Prometheus). Ephemetheus knew better than to trust Zeus and he had been warned by Prometheus never to accept gifts from the Olympians, especially Zeus. 65One look at Pandora and Ephemetheus was rendered helpless. He could not resist her, he accepted her willingly. 66When the gift was opened, evil and despair entered into this world. 67Mistrust and disease spread over the wide earth. After Pandora was emptied of her curse, only Hope was left inside. Unreasonable, groundless Hope that makes the curse of life into a blessing. 68Prometheus was destined to suffer at the hands of his own kind. Gods punishing gods. 69To Prometheus, the saddest part of his punishment was the implication that the gods (Zeus in particular) had lost their right to rule because they had lost touch with their hearts. 70Lets get back to the Titans Gaia (Tellus) Gaia was an Earth goddess she is also the mother of the Titans 71Hyperion A Titan god whose most famous role was that of father. He sired Helios, Eos, and Selene 72Iapetos A Titan god who fathered Atlas, Prometheus, and Epimetheus 73Koios A Titan god who mated with Phoebe and together they produced Leto and Asteria 74Kreios God who sired Astraios, Pallas, and Perses 75Kronos (Cronus) It was Kronos, son of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranos (Sky), who castrated his father in turn, Kronos was the sire of many of the Olympians. 76Leto (Latona) The goddess Leto bore the Olympian deities Artemis and Apollo to Zeus . 77MnemosyneThe name Mnemosyne means "memory" she and Zeus together produced the Muses 78Okeanos (Oceanus)God of the Ocean and water father of the Oceanids ("three thousand slender-ankled daughters") 79Ouranos (Uranus) Ouranos also known as the Sky was both the son and the consort of Gaia he was also the father of the Titans. 80PhoebeGoddess who conceived Leto and Asteria by the Titan Koios. 81The OlympiansThis section introduces the Greek pantheon, and it features the Olympian gods and goddesses - for example Aphrodite, Athena, and Zeus 82

There are twelve Olympians

Aphrodite 7. Dionysos

2. Apollo 8. Hephaistos

3. Ares 9. Hera

4. Artemis 10. Hermes

5. Athena 11. Poseidon

6. Demeter 12. Zeus

83The Olympians were younger lot of gods. They didnt do things the way the old guard (The Titans) did things.The Olympians ruled! 84Aphrodite is known to the Romans as Venus. She is the goddess of love and beauty. Her symbols are the sceptre, myrtle, and the dove. 85As the Greek goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite holds great power over both mortals and immortals. 86Therefore, it should come as no surprise that she is featured in numerous myths, poems, and plays likewise, there are many representations of Aphrodite in Greek sculpture and vase painting. 87While several legends of Aphrodite emphasize themes of love and desire, some of most compelling myths deal with the consequences that the goddess herself suffers as a result of being the victim of love. 88The story of Aphrodite and her interlude with the human Adonis makes for an interesting study of the double-edged sword that passion can be. 89In this myth, the vulnerability of the goddess is poignant. This vulnerability points to the fact that in Greek mythology even the gods could suffer, and were certainly not immune to the pains and passions that we, as humans, experience. 90Birth of Aphrodite There are a couple of versions of the birth of Aphrodite, which, although they differ, are not necessarily contradictory. 91According to Homer (Iliad, Book V, 370), the goddess is simply the daughter of Zeus and Dione (a name that is merely the feminine form of Zeus in Greek). 92However, the poet Hesiod (Theogony, 188-198) provides a much more elaborate explanation for her birth he claims that the name Aphrodite is derived from aphros or foam, and thus the goddess was born of this substance. 93The tale states that the Titan Kronos castrated his father Ouranos (Sky), and then cast the severed genitals into the sea. From the foam that gathered around the member, Aphrodite emerged, fully formed. 94During the Italian Renaissance Botticelli was inspired by a tale of Aphrodite. Can you guess which one? 95Hesiod's description, however gruesome it may seem, does have the advantage of attaching a certain meaning to the birth of the goddess, which well leave to the reader to ascertain. 96This version also lends a poetic quality to Aphrodite's creation, in that as Anadyomene ("she who emerges"), she was depicted by countless artists. 97 As we have seen, Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and desire. 98Therefore, it should come as no surprise that there are abundant examples of Aphrodite's intimate relationships with both gods and men. 99Perhaps the most notorious of these legends is of her affair with the war god Ares. 100According to the myth, Aphrodite was married to the god of smiths, Hephaistos. 101The golden goddess apparently tended to abandon poor Hephaistos as soon as his burly back was turned, for on many occasions she was to be found in the arms of her lover (one consequence of this illicit affair is included in the Odyssey. 102As a result of these romantic interludes, Aphrodite bore three children to Ares Deimos ("terror") Phobos ("fear")Harmonia ("concord") 103In addition, the goddess of love also engaged in other fruitful unions with male deities, including flings with Dionysus and Hermes. 104It was even suggested in the Homeric Hymn to Aphrodite that there were only three deities who could resist the passions that Aphrodite aroused, and they were Athena, Artemis, and Hestia. 105 All three were goddesses, as well virgins by choice. With the exception of these goddesses however, anyone foolish enough to ignore Aphrodite was courting disaster, as the following myth will demonstrate. 106According to one legend, Aphrodite used her powers to punish Eos, the goddess of the dawn. 107You see, Eos made the mistake of engaging in a tryst with Ares. 108The result of this unfortunate choice on the part of poor Eos was that the jealous Aphrodite punished the dawn goddess with an insatiable appetite for love. 109In other words, Aphrodite turned Eos into what amounts to a nymphomaniac. 110This punishment had a profound effect on Eos, for she was compelled to take a series of lovers, including Cephalus, Tithonus, and Orion. 111Indeed, take is the proper term for the affairs, because Eos seemed to prefer abducting her paramours, much to their dismay. 112The outcome of these unions was often disastrous to the man involved, and so Aphrodite's revenge was complete. 113Apollo is known as god of the arts (esp. poetry and music), archery, and divination. 114Apollos symbols are the bow, the lyre, and the laurel. 115Apollo is in many respects the paradigm of a Greek god, one that serves as a pattern or a model. 116He represents order, harmony, and civilization in a way that most other Olympian deities cannot quite equal. 117One only has to compare him with Dionysus to understand how Apollo is depicted as a bright, rational counterpart to the chaotic and frenzied god of wine and women. 118Indeed, Apollo is most often associated with the cultivated arts of music and medicine, and his role as the leader of the Muses establishes him as a patron of intellectual pursuits. 119In art, images of Apollo represented the height of male attractiveness - indeed, for years, Archaic statues of youths were commonly referred to as "Apollo", later to be replaced the more accurate term "kouros" (young man). 120As with most Greek deities, Apollo has characteristics that are myriad and diverse, so we should proceed to an exploration of this important god. 121Birth of Apollo According to the Greek poet Hesiod (Theogony, 918-20), Apollo was the son of the Olympian Zeus and the Titan Leto, and the brother of the goddess Artemis. 122The details of how Apollo and his sister were born make an intriguing story, so let us look at this legend more closely. 123The myth of Apollo's birth includes another instance of the wrath of Hera. 124Hers, the wife of the philandering Zeus, discovered that her husband had impregnated yet another goddess, and this time it was the Titan Leto. 125In her anger, Hera would not allow Leto to bear her children. 126Leto was pregnant with the twin gods Apollo and Artemis), and the land itself was afraid to provide a shelter for Leto because of the fear of Hera's notorious retribution. 127Finally, Leto found an island that was willing to allow her to give birth, and this island was named Delos (which means "brilliant", and, incidentally, inspired the epithet Delian) in honor of the divine site. 128Apollo was then cared for by Themis, who fed him nectar and ambrosia for a few days, after which time he was an adult capable of assuming the full responsibilities of a god. 129This is the story of how Apollo was born in Greek mythology. 130Shortly after his birth on the island of Delos, the precocious god Apollo embarked on his first adventure. 131In a beautifully lyrical passage of the Homeric Hymn to Apollo, the handsome young divinity is depicted traveling the earth and then ascending to Olympus, where he charmed the gods and goddesses with his music. 132The goddesses - including the Muses, Charites (Graces), Horae (Seasons), Aphrodite, Hebe, and Artemis - were especially fond of Apollo, and they sang and danced to welcome his arrival. 133The god then retired from the company of his fellow Olympians to begin a quest to locate the appropriate site for an oracle. 134 After searching far and wide, Apollo finally found a place that pleased him. 135He informed Telphousa, the resident nature spirit, of his intentions to build a temple at her sacred spring, but the nymph discouraged him from this plan. 136Telphousa instead suggested that Apollo select Delphi as the site for his shrine, and the god therefore left the spring and continued his journey. 137Near Delphi, Apollo encountered and killed the enormous serpent Python (the god's priestess was named Pythia to commemorate this event). 138According to some sources, this in part is the mythological explanation for how the oracle of Apollo was established at Delphi. 139In addition to defeating Python, Apollo also conquered, in various ways, several other notable mythological figures, including the satyr Marsyas, the giant Tityus, and the children of Niobe. 140Indeed, the god and his sister Artemis together punished both Tityus and Niobe as a form of revenge for the insults these characters had made to their mother Leto. 141Apollo was, however, not just a fighter - like many of the other Olympian gods, he was a lover as well. He was also an Olympian, and the son of the Leto and Zeus. So back to the Olympians 142Ares (Mars) Is god the of war. His symbols is the spear.War, battles, and bloodshed are his major preoccupations. 143In certain respects, there is not too much more to Ares than this connection to war, as he is portrayed as being somewhat one-dimensional. Or at least limited in his pleasures. 144There is one other area in which Ares was interested, and that is indeed pleasure - with the goddess Aphrodite, that is. 145He engaged in an ongoing tryst with Aphrodite which is the stuff of legend (and myth), in defiance of that fact that the lovely goddess was already married (to the god Hephaistos). 146There is a wonderfully charming tale in the Odyssey of Homer about how this couple's romantic rendezvous came to an abrupt, and comic, end. 147Ares and Aphrodite Ares and Aphrodite were dallying together when their interlude was rudely interrupted. 148You see, the god of the Sun, Helios, from whom little, if anything, could be kept secret, spied the pair in enjoying each other one day. 149Helios promptly reported the incident to Hephaistos, who was understandably angry. 150Hephaistos contrived to catch the couple "in the act", and so he fashioned a net to snare the illicit lovers. 151At the appropriate time, this net was sprung, and trapped Ares and Aphrodite locked in very private embrace. 152But Hephaistos was not yet satisfied with his revenge - he invited the Olympian gods and goddesses to view the unfortunate pair. 153For the sake of modesty, the goddesses demurred, but the male gods went and witnessed the sight. 154Some commented on the beauty of Aphrodite, others remarked that they would eagerly trade places with Ares, and they all laughed. 155Well, except for Ares, who was out of sorts, and Aphrodite, who, if goddesses can blush like maidens, surely did so. 156 The Lovers of Ares in Myth The fierce god Ares was often inflamed with lust in Greek mythology - lust for battle, that is. 157Indeed, it is fair to say that Ares was obsessed with war, almost to the exclusion of anything else. 158The god did, however, have an eye for the female form, and his appetite for Aphrodite, the alluring goddess of love and beauty, at times almost rivaled his desire to do battle. 159In consequence his conquests off the battlefield are nearly as legendary as his victories and defeats in combat. There are many a tale to be found. Heres a short list of his lovers 160Aphrodite The beautiful Greek goddess of love certainly snared the god of war with her irresistible charms - the pair together conceived several children, including Deimos, Phobos, and Harmonia 161Cyrene As a result of her affair with Ares, the nymph Cyrene gave birth to a son named Diomedes

162EosThe Greek goddess of the dawn engaged in an ill-advised tryst with Ares, which ended badly for Eos when Aphrodite discovered the relationship 163PyreneSome sources for mythology state that Ares and Pyrene were the parents of Cycnus 164Sterope Sterope was one of the Pleiades (daughters of Altas and Pleione), and according to some versions of the tale, she was a lover of Ares and the mother by him of Oenomaus 165Lets get back to our list of Olympians 166Artemis (Diana) Is the goddess of the hunt and protector of children. Her symbols are the bow and the deer. 167The goddess Artemis plays an intriguing role in Greek mythology and religion. 168She is known as the "Mistress of Animals" and the protectress of children, but she was also a huntress and the goddess who could bring death with her arrows. 169Myths such as the one about Niobe show Artemis as a strong willed and powerful goddess, a female who could punish injustices against the gods with ferocious and deadly accuracy. 170Artemis was the daughter of Leto and Zeus (the ruler of the Greek gods). Together with her twin brother Apollo she enjoyed the status and privileges of an Olympian. 171As an Olympian goddess, Artemis was free to pursue her interests, and was often found frolicking in the forests, accompanied by a band of nymphs. 172Myths and legends show that the goddess Artemis was aloof and free-spirited, and not constrained by husband or hearth. 173Her independent nature is further reinforced in a very important way, for in mythology and religion, the goddess remained eternally a virgin. 174Indeed, those who in some way compromised her strict requirements for chastity were severely punished by the maiden goddess. 175There are several tales that describe the swift and terrible retribution of Artemis. One of the most revealing of these stories involves the youth Actaeon. 176In addition, Artemis was also responsible for punishing the nymph Callisto. 177In myth, Callisto was at one point a follower of the virgin goddess, but when she became involved in an affair with the god Zeus, Artemis had her revenge on the unfortunate nymph. 178Artemis is sometimes identified with Selene, the Greek goddess of the moon. Indeed, this association between Artemis and the moon is revealed in one of the epithets used to describe the goddess - Phoebe ("the bright one"). 179The goddess Artemis was known as Diana in Roman mythology. 180 Athena (Minerva)Is the goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts the patron of Athens. 181 Demeter (Ceres) Is the goddess of agriculture and fertility. 182Dionysos (Bacchus) Is the god of wine, mysteries, and the theatre. 183Hephaistos (Vulcan) Is the god of smiths and metal-workers. He is also the husband of Aphrodite. 184Hera (Juno) Is the goddess of marriage consort of Zeus. 185Hermes (Mercury) Is the god of merchants. He is also known as the messenger god of Zeus. 186 Poseidon (Neptune) God of the sea and earthquakes 187 Zeus (Jupiter) God of the sky Ruler of Olympus 188If you will recall we had four major categories within Gods and Goddesses that we were looking at when we started. The fourth is the Free Spirits 189The Free Spirits include a list of important Greek gods and goddesses who do not fit into a specific category - includes the Muses, Nike, nymphs, etc. 190Amphitrite Sea goddess wife of Poseidon 191Asklepios (Asclepius) God of healing 192Boreas God of the north wind 193Dike (Iustitia) Goddess of justice 194Eileithyia (Lucina) Goddess of childbirth 195Eirene (Pax) Goddess who personified peace 196Enyo (Bellona) Goddess of war 197Eos (Aurora)Goddess of the dawn 198Erebus Personification of darkness 199Eris (Discordia) Goddess whose name means "discord" or "strife" 200Eros (Cupid) God of love and desire 201Eunomia Goddess who personified discipline or good government 202Fates (Moirai in Greek, Parcae in Latin) Goddesses who supervised fate the poet Hesiod names them Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos 203Graces (Charites in Greek, Gratiae in Latin) A trio of graceful goddesses associated with Aphrodite 204Hebe (Juventas) Goddess who was a cup-bearer for the Olympian gods 205Helios (Sol) God of the sun 206Hesperus (Vesper) The evening star 207Hestia (Vesta) Goddess of the home and hearth

208Heroes Heroines From A - Z 209Heroes Heroines Greek heroes, from Achilles through Cassiopeiaas well Ajax, Ariadne, and Bellerophon 210Heroes Heroines Greek heroes from the brothers Castor and Polydeuces through Hippolytus other notables are Helen of Troy and Herakles 211Heroes Heroines From Iphigenia through Oedipus also Jason, Medea, and Odysseus 212Heroes HeroinesFrom Orion through Theseus with intriguing characters such as Orpheus, Pandora, and Paris 213Lovers These myths involve themes of love, desire, and passion some examples are the story of Eros and Psyche, the tale of Echo and Narcissus, and the numerous affairs of Zeus 214Legends "legends" is an appropriate term to describe these mythological characters, in that their deeds are legendary notable legends are Arachne, Callisto, and Psyche 215Hybrids A hybrid is a composite creature - examples are the centaur (combination of human and horse), and the harpy (human and vulture) these mythical beings populated the imaginations, literature, and art of the ancient Greeks 216 Centaur In Greek mythology and art, the centaur has the torso of a human combined with the body of a horse 217Cockatrice This creature was also known as a basilisk ("king of serpents"), and its very glance could kill the cockatrice was composed of a dragon's tail and assorted poultry parts 218Giants (gigantes) These fierce and frightening beings were the offspring of Gaia (the Earth) 219Griffin According to myth, the griffin was a creature with a lion's body attached to the head, wings, and claws of an eagle 220Harpy Harpies had female torsos melded with vulture parts the name harpy is derived from the Greek word that means "snatcher" 221Satyr (faun) Satyrs were often the companions of Dionysos, and these creatures were depicted in myth and art with the legs of goats and bestial natures 222SirensWomen with bird-like bodies sirens were legendary for luring sailors by singing their enchanted songs 223Monsters Monsters were generally either friends or foes to various Greek heroes 224ArgusCreature with many eyes Argus played a prominent role in one of the myths of the goddess Hera 225Cerberus Cerberus was the guardian of the Underworld in myth, he was portrayed as a dog with three heads 226Charybdis In Greek mythology, Charybdis was a deadly whirlpool personified as a female monster

227Chimera With a body that was one third lion, one third she-goat, and one third serpent, this creature was definitely one frightening beast 228Cyclops Giant with a single eye in its forehead the plural form of this word is Cyclopes 229Echidna This monster was half beautiful woman and half deadly serpent she was the mother of many mythical monsters 230Geryon The monster known as Geryon had three heads and three bodies he was defeated by the hero Herakles 231Gorgons This trio of terrifying females consists of the sisters Euryale, Medusa, and Stheno 232GraiaeThese "old women" were the sisters of the Gorgons 233Hydra The Hydra had a water-serpent body topped by numerous heads 234Ladon Dragon who guarded the area where the apples of the Hesperides were hidden 235Lamia She was a frightening bogey-woman in Greek mythology 236Fin

About PowerShow.com

PowerShow.com is a leading presentation/slideshow sharing website. Whether your application is business, how-to, education, medicine, school, church, sales, marketing, online training or just for fun, PowerShow.com is a great resource. And, best of all, most of its cool features are free and easy to use.

You can use PowerShow.com to find and download example online PowerPoint ppt presentations on just about any topic you can imagine so you can learn how to improve your own slides and
presentations for free. Or use it to find and download high-quality how-to PowerPoint ppt presentations with illustrated or animated slides that will teach you how to do something new, also for free. Or use it to upload your own PowerPoint slides so you can share them with your teachers, class, students, bosses, employees, customers, potential investors or the world. Or use it to create really cool photo slideshows - with 2D and 3D transitions, animation, and your choice of music - that you can share with your Facebook friends or Google+ circles. That's all free as well!

For a small fee you can get the industry's best online privacy or publicly promote your presentations and slide shows with top rankings. But aside from that it's free. We'll even convert your presentations and slide shows into the universal Flash format with all their original multimedia glory, including animation, 2D and 3D transition effects, embedded music or other audio, or even video embedded in slides. All for free. Most of the presentations and slideshows on PowerShow.com are free to view, many are even free to download. (You can choose whether to allow people to download your original PowerPoint presentations and photo slideshows for a fee or free or not at all.) Check out PowerShow.com today - for FREE. There is truly something for everyone!

presentations for free. Or use it to find and download high-quality how-to PowerPoint ppt presentations with illustrated or animated slides that will teach you how to do something new, also for free. Or use it to upload your own PowerPoint slides so you can share them with your teachers, class, students, bosses, employees, customers, potential investors or the world. Or use it to create really cool photo slideshows - with 2D and 3D transitions, animation, and your choice of music - that you can share with your Facebook friends or Google+ circles. That's all free as well!

For a small fee you can get the industry's best online privacy or publicly promote your presentations and slide shows with top rankings. But aside from that it's free. We'll even convert your presentations and slide shows into the universal Flash format with all their original multimedia glory, including animation, 2D and 3D transition effects, embedded music or other audio, or even video embedded in slides. All for free. Most of the presentations and slideshows on PowerShow.com are free to view, many are even free to download. (You can choose whether to allow people to download your original PowerPoint presentations and photo slideshows for a fee or free or not at all.) Check out PowerShow.com today - for FREE. There is truly something for everyone!